Wahoos Make It Two Straight With 7-2 Win Over The Biscuits
July 12, 2013
For the second straight game the Blue Wahoos had five players with multi-hit games as Pensacola cruised to a 7-2 win over the Montgomery Biscuits for their second consecutive win on Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium. Corey Wimberly (2-for-4), Donald Lutz (2-for-5), Tucker Barnhart (2-for-5), Travis Mattair (3-for-4) and Brodie Greene (2-for-4) all had multiple knocks aiding the 13 hit effort by the Wahoos.
Ryan LaMarre got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. Greene tripled a batter later and scored on a sacrifice fly from Wimberly to make it 4-0. That proved to be all the Blue Wahoos would need behind more solid pitching. The Biscuits scattered six hits against Blue Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe (W, 4-7) over his six shutout innings on his way to his fourth win of the year. Jim Patterson (L, 0-2) took the loss after allowing all four Blue Wahoos runs in the fourth. They were the only four runs he allowed over his three innings out of the Biscuits bullpen.
Both teams traded runs in the seventh. Pensacola scored one when Barnhart singled home Lutz. In the bottom of the frame, Todd Glaesmann doubled home Cameron Seitzer before scoring on a sacrifice fly to centerfield a couple batters later for the Biscuits two runs. Both runs were scored off reliever Jamie Walczak in his only inning of work.
Pensacola extended the advantage and put the game away with two more runs in the ninth off Austin Hubbard. Wimberly homered to right for his first of the season with Pensacola, before Barnhart singled home Lutz for the second time in the game making it 7-2 Wahoos. Josh Ravin and Loek Van Mil both worked scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to cap off the win.
The five-game set rolls on Friday night at Riverwalk Stadium. LHP Ryan Dennick (4-10, 3.77) takes the ball for Pensacola against Biscuits RHP Mike Colla (3-1, 3.29). First pitch is slated for 7:05 in Montgomery, Ala.
NOTES: Former Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph made his Major League debut on Thursday afternoon for the Kansas City Royals against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The lefty worked 0.1 innings allowing just a hit and a walk. Joseph was traded to Kansas City with former Wahoo J.C. Sulbaran near last year’s trade deadline in exchange for Jonathan Broxton.
story by Kevin Burke
Developer Picked For UWF BEI Project
July 12, 2013
Business Enterprises Inc., the for-profit business division of the University of West Florida, announced a developer Thursday for projects known as University Park and Northwest Village.
Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions was named the master developer for the project University park will possible include such possible football stadium, parking garage, bell tower, new student union and plaza. Northwest Village will be an active adult community for residents age 55 and up on the west end of the campus. It will provide housing for retired employees and those interested in the community.
Balfour was chosen by a committee that included representatives from Baskerville Donovan Engineering, Caldwell and Associates, Architects and Interiors and the Morette Construction Company — all of which will work with BEI to create facility plans.
The entire project will be spread over a period up to 10 years.
BEI is currently working to secure a developer and financing for a second $55 million project for a hotel, conference center, new student housing and more at the Davis Highway entrance to UWF. Read more…
Flash Flooding Hits Molino Area (With Photo Gallery)
July 11, 2013
Flash flooding caused numerous problems in the Molino area today, including the partial closure of the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection.
At one point, most of the intersection at Tom Thumb (also known as the “Atmore Cutoff”) was underwater, prompting authorities to close lanes. The water receded in just over an hour, and all lanes of traffic were reopened.
Scroll down for additional flooding photos from the Molino and Barrineau Park areas.
Above: Highway 29 at Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Above: Hi Lo Trail off Molino Road. Reader photo by Donna Schachle.
Above: Pinoak Lane, Cantonment, near Highway 29. Reader photo by Valerie Davis.
Above: Wilders Creek on Fairground Road. Reader photo by Ian King.
Above: Barrineau Park Road between Barrineau Park School Road and Barrineau Lane. Reader photo by April Mitchell.
Half Million Savings: Alabama, Florida Farmers Learn Chemical Control
July 11, 2013
Drive around the back roads near Atmore or Walnut Hill at this time of year, and you will see big fields planted in cotton and peanuts. Keep driving and odds are pretty good that you may drive between Florida and Alabama without ever realizing that you have crossed the state line.
Farmers in this area often work fields in both states. Row-crop production is big business in this area. Last year, more than 28,000 acres of cotton were grown in the two neighboring counties. Peanuts were planted in more than 30,000 acres in that same time period.
For cotton and peanut producers to run profitable operations, they have to manage closely all of their production inputs from seed to fuel.
Kim Wilkins, a row crops regional agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, says agri-chemicals are the most expensive input farmers must buy.
“They use as little as they can to be effective because farmers just don’t have the money to waste,” says Wilkins.
Wilkins and her Florida Extension counterpart, Libbie Johnson, were looking for ways to help their farmers stay profitable when they came up with the idea of holding three agricultural sprayer workshops.
Johnson says it just made good sense to work together since many of the farmers have fields on both sides of the state lines. Wilkins agrees.
“In this area, we have farmers who work a lot of acres,” says Wilkins. “There is no way for them to be profitable in these crops without a lot of acreage. “
Johnson says the pair took an idea that was being used successfully in south Florida and modified it to work with their growers.
“We knew that if we could get the growers to the meetings and help them calibrate their sprayers that we could help them reduce input costs,” says Johnson.
Sprayer calibration is a critical element for producers, says Wilkins.
“Apply too much, you risk crop injury and potential environmental impacts, and you have increased costs because of wasted product. Apply too little, you risk poor pest control, increased chemical costs because of product reapplications and reduced income from yield loss.”
Wilkins and Johnson enlisted the assistance of Smith Tractor Company and Hypro Sprayer Company. The sprayer workshops reached 60 farmers and included classroom presentations followed by sprayer tip evaluation demonstrations. During these demonstrations representatives from Alabama Extension, Florida Extension, and the companies would calibrate sprayers brought on site by farmers.
Wilkins says most of these sprayers have more than 60 tips, and each tip was evaluated using state-of-the-art calibration equipment.
“We then took the information from calibration testing and put it in a spreadsheet designed by Florida Extension. After doing some calculations, the spreadsheet advises whether producers should change their sprayer tips.”
Wilkins says a five percent reduction in total spray volume is a conservative assessment as a result of calibration changes made at the workshop.
Extension economists estimated that each of the 60 producers was farming an average of 1,000 acres so workshop participants as a group were working about 60,000 acres. According to the Gulf Coast Farm Analysis Association, the average cost of chemicals for peanuts and cotton is about $171. This means that workshop participants as a group saved more than $500,000 in input costs.
Johnson says producers appreciated how the workshops were set up.
“They appreciated that the meetings were held well in advance of planting times and that the meetings offered more than classroom instruction,” she says. “Being hands-on with farmers is still an important part of the county agent’s job. We are just doing hands-on work in ways that make the most of the technology available to us.”
Wilkins and Johnson add another benefit to partnering with industry is reaching new clients. Wilkins says that the workshops highlighted the quality of Extension programs to producers who have not been to many Extension programs.
Pictured top: A farm sprayer. Pictured inset: (L-R) Kim Wilkins, Billy Danielson, Libbie Johnson and Eddie Booker. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jail Time For Man That Stole Guns From Dead Uncle, Beat Man Over Spilled Beer
July 11, 2013
A Cantonment man will spend the next several months in the Escambia County Jail for stealing guns from his uncle’s house hours after he had a heart attack and beating another man in the face with a baseball bat over a spilled beer.
Robert Michael Lanquist, Jr., 22, was charged with four felony counts of grand theft of a firearm last September for stealing firearms from his uncle’s gun safe while Lanquist’s aunt was at the hospital as his uncle passed away. When Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and an ATF agent contacted Lanquist at his residence, he granted them permission to search the house. They reported finding the weapons hidden in a crawlspace under the home. Lanquist, according to a Sheriff’s Office report, served as pallbearer shortly after the theft.
Judge Michael Allen found Lanquist guilty of one count of felony theft of a firearm and sentenced him to nine months in the county jail.
Just days after the firearm theft, Lanquis was charged with felony aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability. The victim told deputies he and Lanquist became involved in an argument at a female’s house on Forest Avenue after a beer was spilled on Lanquist. The victim said Lanquist walked away and returned with a baseball bat, striking the victim in the head and face.
Lanquist admitted to deputies that he did become involved in an altercation with the victim after he poured a beer on him and began to belittle his mother. He admitted to punching the victim in the face but denied having a weapon, deputies said.
He was convicted of the felony battery charge by Judge Allen and sentenced to nine months in the county jail, concurrent with the weapons sentence.
Lanquist filed a motion to modify his sentence, but Allen denied that motion this week.
Escambia Schools Continue Four-Day Summer Work Week
July 11, 2013
Escambia County schools are continuing a four-day work week for the summer until the end of this month.
Schools are currently open Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Monday, July 29, schools will return to a regular five-day work week.
Softball Tourney To Benefit Northview Student Fighting Cancer
July 11, 2013
A benefit coed softball tournament will be held next month for Dennis Trevor Mathis, a 16-year old Northview High School junior diagnosed with cancer in May.
The tournament will be held Saturday, August 10 at Showalter Park in Century. Entry fee is $150 per team. For more information, call or text Robin Cofield at (850) 336-1490.
To follow Mathis’ progress, visit the Facebook page “Fight to Win DTM“.
Photos: Blue Angels Back In The Skies Over Pensacola
July 11, 2013
The Blue Angels were back in the skies over Pensacola on Wednesday. While the Blue Angels’ 2013 air show season may have been canceled due to budget constraints, the pilots fly proficiency flights to maintain their qualifications in the F/A-18 Hornets.
Scroll down for more photos with captions.
Submitted photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Terrence Siren for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: The Blue Angels take off from Naval Air Station Pensacola Wednesday for proficiency flights to maintain their qualifications in the F/A-18.
Above: Blue Angels Commanding Officer and Flight Leader Cmdr. Tom Frosch taxis his F/A-18 Hornet down the runway prior to take-off.
The Blue Angels, F/A-18 Hornets go “smoke on” prior to launching a pilot proficiency flight from Naval Air Station Pensacola on Wednesday.
Above: Blue Angels Opposing Solo pilot Lt. Mark Tedrow waves to his crew chiefs prior to the launch.
Above: Crew chief Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class David Schooley of Easton, Pa., runs clear of the Number One jet.
Above: Blue Angels Maintenance and Support Team members run clear of the runway as part of a practice ground performance prior to the launch of a pilot proficiency flight.
Council On Aging Seeks Volunteers
July 11, 2013
Council on Aging of West Florida will host an information session for individuals 18 or older who are interested in volunteering their time, experience and skills to help serve the diverse, growing senior population. The session will be held Thursday, July 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Council’s main office, 875 Royce Street in Pensacola. The session is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
The information session includes an overview of the Council’s mission, what the organization does in the community and how volunteers can make a difference in the lives of seniors. Volunteer opportunities to be presented include delivering Meals on Wheels, marketing and community outreach, adult day health care activities, transportation, light home repairs, yard work and office work. Flexible schedules are available for one time, periodic or weekly volunteer assignments for individuals and/or groups. For more information or to register, please contact Betty McLeroy at (850) 266-2518 or bmcleroy@coawfla.org.
Blue Wahoos Snap Losing Skid, Beat Montgomery 5-3
July 11, 2013
Ryan LaMarre broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth inning with a game-winning two-run home run giving the Blue Wahoos all they needed to down the Montgomery Biscuits 5-3 in the series opener at Riverwalk Stadium Wednesday night. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Blue Wahoos.
After the two teams waited out a rain delay of nearly an hour, Pensacola struck first with a run in the top of the second when LaMarre brought home Tucker Barnhart from third with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Biscuits quickly responded using a hit and three walks, including one with the bases loaded, to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.
The Biscuits moved in front with back to back home runs from Todd Glaesmann and Kyeong Kang in the bottom of the third. Blue Wahoo starter Shaun Ellis labored through three innings and was charged with all three Biscuits runs. He also walked a season-high four batters in the no decision.
Pensacola got back on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the fourth. Barnhart started the rally with a one-out solo home run. Travis Mattair singled behind him and scored on a two-out double from LaMarre. The left fielder mishandled the ball allowing Mattair to scamper home with the game-tying run.
The two teams traded zeros until the ninth. With Mattair at first and two outs, LaMarre launched a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall to give the Blue Wahoos a 5-3 advantage. Trevor Bell (S, 5) came in and nailed down the save, his fifth in as many tries. Bell combined with three other relievers to work six scoreless innings. Chris Manno worked three shutout and Lee Hyde (W, 3-4) pitched 1.1 scoreless. Hyde earned the win, his third of the season. Juan Sandoval (L, 2-2) took the loss for the Biscuits after allowing the ninth inning home run.
Five players had multi-hit games for the Blue Wahoos. Corey Wimberly (2-for-4), Barnhart (2-for-4), Brodie Greene (2-for-4), LaMarre (2-for-3) and Mattair (3-for-4) all had at least two hits, but LaMarre added three RBI.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series with the Biscuits on Thursday night. RHP Tim Crabbe (3-7, 3.63) gets the nod for Pensacola against Biscuits LHP Enny Romero. First pitch is slated for 7:05 from Riverwalk Stadium.
story by Kevin Burke